1.
And the LORD spake unto Moses and Aaron, saying,
Reciprocal: Leviticus 15:1 - Aaron Deuteronomy 24:8 - General Mark 1:40 - a leper Luke 5:12 - full Luke 17:14 - Go
2.
When a man shall have in the skin of his flesh a rising, a scab, or a bright spot, and it be in the skin of his flesh like the plague of leprosy; then he shall be brought unto Aaron the priest, or unto one of his sons the priests:
rising: or, swelling
a scab: Leviticus 14:56, Deuteronomy 28:27, Isaiah 3:17
the plague of leprosy: Tzaraâth, the Leprosy, from the Greek כונסב, from כוניע, a scale; so called, because in this disease the body is covered with thin white scales, so as to give it the appearance of snow. The leprosy is a dreadful, contagious disorder, common in Egypt and Syria, and generally manifests itself at first in the manner described in the text. Its commencement is imperceptible; there appearing only a few reddish spots on the skin, which are not attended with pain or any other symptom, but cannot be removed. It increases imperceptibly, and continues for some years to be more and more manifest. The spots become larger, spread over the whole skin, and are sometimes rather raised, though generally flat. When it increases the upper part of the nose swells, the nostrils distend, the nose becomes soft, swellings appear on the under jaws, the eyebrows are elevated, the ears grow thick, the ends of the fingers, feet, and toes, swell, the nails grow scaly, the joints of the hands and feet separate, the palms of hands and soles of the feet are ulcerated, and in its last stage the patient becomes horrible, and falls to pieces. Leviticus 14:3, Leviticus 14:35, Exodus 4:6, Exodus 4:7, Numbers 12:10, Numbers 12:12, 2 Samuel 3:29, 2 Kings 5:1, 2 Kings 5:27, 2 Chronicles 26:19-21, Isaiah 1:6
he shall: Deuteronomy 17:8, Deuteronomy 17:9, Deuteronomy 24:8, Malachi 2:7, Matthew 8:4, Mark 1:44, Luke 5:14, Luke 17:14
Reciprocal: Leviticus 13:3 - shall look Leviticus 13:6 - a scab Leviticus 13:27 - it is the plague of leprosy Leviticus 13:49 - it is Leviticus 22:4 - a leper
3.
And the priest shall look on the plague in the skin of the flesh: and when the hair in the plague is turned white, and the plague in sight be deeper than the skin of his flesh, it is a plague of leprosy: and the priest shall look on him, and pronounce him unclean.
shall look: Leviticus 13:2, Leviticus 10:10, Ezekiel 44:23, Haggai 2:11, Malachi 2:7, Acts 20:28, Romans 3:19, Romans 3:20, Romans 7:7, Hebrews 13:7, Revelation 2:23
turned: Ezekiel 16:30, Hosea 7:9
deeper: Genesis 13:3, 2 Timothy 2:16, 2 Timothy 2:17, 2 Timothy 3:13
pronounce: Matthew 16:19, Matthew 18:17, Matthew 18:18, John 20:23, Romans 3:19, Romans 3:20, 1 Corinthians 5:4-6, 2 Thessalonians 3:14, 2 Thessalonians 3:15, 1 Timothy 1:20
Reciprocal: Leviticus 13:8 - General Leviticus 13:10 - shall see him Leviticus 13:20 - in sight Leviticus 14:37 - General Leviticus 22:4 - a leper Numbers 12:10 - leprous 2 Kings 5:1 - a leper
4.
If the bright spot be white in the skin of his flesh, and in sight be not deeper than the skin, and the hair thereof be not turned white; then the priest shall shut up him that hath the plague seven days:
shut up: Numbers 12:15, Deuteronomy 13:14, Ezekiel 44:10, 1 Corinthians 4:5, 1 Timothy 5:24
Reciprocal: Leviticus 13:10 - shall see him Leviticus 13:25 - turned white Leviticus 13:26 - then the priest Leviticus 13:31 - seven days
5.
And the priest shall look on him the seventh day: and, behold, if the plague in his sight be at a stay, and the plague spread not in the skin; then the priest shall shut him up seven days more:
Reciprocal: Exodus 29:30 - seven days Leviticus 13:26 - then the priest Leviticus 14:8 - seven days
6.
And the priest shall look on him again the seventh day: and, behold, if the plague be somewhat dark, and the plague spread not in the skin, the priest shall pronounce him clean: it is but a scab: and he shall wash his clothes, and be clean.
pronounce: Isaiah 11:3, Isaiah 11:4, Isaiah 42:3, Romans 14:1, Jude 1:22, Jude 1:23
a scab: Leviticus 13:2, Deuteronomy 32:5, James 3:2
wash: Leviticus 11:25, Leviticus 11:28, Leviticus 11:40, Leviticus 14:8, 1 Kings 8:38, 1 Kings 8:45, Psalms 19:12, Proverbs 20:9, Ecclesiastes 7:20, John 13:8-10, 2 Corinthians 7:1, Hebrews 9:10, Hebrews 10:22, 1 John 1:7-9
Reciprocal: Leviticus 13:34 - and he shall Leviticus 15:5 - General
7.
But if the scab spread much abroad in the skin, after that he hath been seen of the priest for his cleansing, he shall be seen of the priest again:
Leviticus 13:27, Leviticus 13:35, Leviticus 13:36, Psalms 38:3, Isaiah 1:5, Isaiah 1:6, Romans 6:12-14, 2 Timothy 2:16, 2 Timothy 2:17
Reciprocal: Leviticus 14:39 - General
8.
And if the priest see that, behold, the scab spreadeth in the skin, then the priest shall pronounce him unclean: it is a leprosy.
Leviticus 13:3, Matthew 15:7, Matthew 15:8, Acts 8:21, Philippians 3:18, Philippians 3:19, 2 Peter 2:19
Reciprocal: Leviticus 14:39 - General
9.
When the plague of leprosy is in a man, then he shall be brought unto the priest;
10.
And the priest shall see him: and, behold, if the rising be white in the skin, and it have turned the hair white, and there be quick raw flesh in the rising;
shall see him: Leviticus 13:3, Leviticus 13:4, Numbers 12:10-12, 2 Kings 5:27, 2 Chronicles 26:19, 2 Chronicles 26:20
quick raw flesh: Heb. the quickening of living flesh, Leviticus 13:14, Leviticus 13:15, Leviticus 13:24, Proverbs 12:1, Amos 5:10, John 3:19, John 3:20, John 7:7
11.
It is an old leprosy in the skin of his flesh, and the priest shall pronounce him unclean, and shall not shut him up: for he is unclean.
12.
And if a leprosy break out abroad in the skin, and the leprosy cover all the skin of him that hath the plague from his head even to his foot, wheresoever the priest looketh;
cover all: 1 Kings 8:38, Job 40:4, Job 42:6, Isaiah 64:6, John 16:8, John 16:9, Romans 7:14, 1 John 1:8-10
13.
Then the priest shall consider: and, behold, if the leprosy have covered all his flesh, he shall pronounce him clean that hath the plague: it is all turned white: he is clean.
if the leprosy: It may seem strange that the partial leper should be pronounced unclean, and the person totally covered with the disease clean. This was probably owing to a different species or stage of the disease; the partial being contagious, the total not. That there are two different species, or degrees, of the disease described here, is sufficiently evident: in one, the person was all covered with a white enamelled scurf; in the other, there was a quick raw flesh in the risings. On this account, the one was deemed unclean, or contagious, the other not; for contact with the quick raw flesh would be more likely to communicate the disease, than the touch of the hard dry scurf. The ichor proceeding from the former, when brought into contact with the flesh of another, would soon be taken into constitution by means of the absorbent vessels; but where the surface was perfectly dry; the absorbent vessels of another, coming in contact with the diseased man, could imbibe nothing, and there was consequently but little or no danger of infection. This is the learned Dr. Mead's view of the subject; who thus accounts for the circumstances mentioned in the text.
he is clean: Isaiah 64:6, John 9:41
Reciprocal: Leviticus 14:7 - pronounce
14.
But when raw flesh appeareth in him, he shall be unclean.
15.
And the priest shall see the raw flesh, and pronounce him to be unclean: for the raw flesh is unclean: it is a leprosy.
Reciprocal: Leviticus 13:10 - quick raw flesh
16.
Or if the raw flesh turn again, and be changed unto white, he shall come unto the priest;
17.
And the priest shall see him: and, behold, if the plague be turned into white; then the priest shall pronounce him clean that hath the plague: he is clean.
Reciprocal: Leviticus 14:7 - pronounce
18.
The flesh also, in which, even in the skin thereof, was a boil, and is healed,
a boil: Exodus 9:9, Exodus 15:26, 2 Kings 20:7, Job 2:7, Psalms 38:3-7, Isaiah 38:21
Reciprocal: Leviticus 13:25 - turned white
19.
And in the place of the boil there be a white rising, or a bright spot, white, and somewhat reddish, and it be shewed to the priest;
Reciprocal: Leviticus 14:37 - General
20.
And if, when the priest seeth it, behold, it be in sight lower than the skin, and the hair thereof be turned white; the priest shall pronounce him unclean: it is a plague of leprosy broken out of the boil.
in sight: Leviticus 13:3, Matthew 12:45, John 5:14, 2 Peter 2:20
Reciprocal: Leviticus 14:37 - General
21.
But if the priest look on it, and, behold, there be no white hairs therein, and if it be not lower than the skin, but be somewhat dark; then the priest shall shut him up seven days:
shut him: 1 Corinthians 5:5
22.
And if it spread much abroad in the skin, then the priest shall pronounce him unclean: it is a plague.
a plague: i.e. "The plague of leprosy", Leviticus 13:22
Reciprocal: Leviticus 14:39 - General
23.
But if the bright spot stay in his place, and spread not, it is a burning boil; and the priest shall pronounce him clean.
Genesis 38:26, 2 Samuel 12:13, 2 Chronicles 19:2, 2 Chronicles 19:3, Job 34:31, Job 34:32, Job 40:4, Job 40:5, Proverbs 28:13, Matthew 26:75, 2 Corinthians 2:7, Galatians 6:1, 1 Peter 4:2, 1 Peter 4:3
Reciprocal: Leviticus 13:26 - then the priest Leviticus 13:34 - be not
24.
Or if there be any flesh, in the skin whereof there is a hot burning, and the quick flesh that burneth have a white bright spot, somewhat reddish, or white;
a hot burning: Heb. a burning of fire, Isaiah 3:24, This is supposed to state the case of such as had been hurt by fire; which would leave a scar, in which the leprosy might appear, and which was to be distinguished by the rules here given.
Reciprocal: Leviticus 13:10 - quick raw flesh
25.
Then the priest shall look upon it: and, behold, if the hair in the bright spot be turned white, and it be in sight deeper than the skin; it is a leprosy broken out of the burning: wherefore the priest shall pronounce him unclean: it is the plague of leprosy.
turned white: Leviticus 13:4, Leviticus 13:18-20
26.
But if the priest look on it, and, behold, there be no white hair in the bright spot, and it be no lower than the other skin, but be somewhat dark; then the priest shall shut him up seven days:
then the priest: Leviticus 13:4, Leviticus 13:5, Leviticus 13:23
27.
And the priest shall look upon him the seventh day: and if it be spread much abroad in the skin, then the priest shall pronounce him unclean: it is the plague of leprosy.
it is the plague of leprosy: Leviticus 13:2
Reciprocal: Leviticus 13:7 - General Leviticus 13:35 - General Leviticus 14:39 - General
28.
And if the bright spot stay in his place, and spread not in the skin, but it be somewhat dark; it is a rising of the burning, and the priest shall pronounce him clean: for it is an inflammation of the burning.
29.
If a man or woman have a plague upon the head or the beard;
1 Kings 8:38, 1 Kings 12:28, 2 Chronicles 6:29, Psalms 53:4, Isaiah 1:5, Isaiah 5:20, Isaiah 9:15, Micah 3:11, Matthew 6:23, Matthew 13:14, Matthew 13:15, John 16:2, John 16:3, Acts 22:3, Acts 22:4, Acts 26:9, Acts 26:10, 2 Corinthians 4:3, 2 Corinthians 4:4, 2 Thessalonians 2:11, 2 Thessalonians 2:12
Reciprocal: Isaiah 3:17 - smite
30.
Then the priest shall see the plague: and, behold, if it be in sight deeper than the skin; and there be in it a yellow thin hair; then the priest shall pronounce him unclean: it is a dry scall, even a leprosy upon the head or beard.
scall: Leviticus 13:34-37, Leviticus 14:54
Reciprocal: Leviticus 13:32 - yellow hair Isaiah 3:17 - smite John 20:4 - outrun
31.
And if the priest look on the plague of the scall, and, behold, it be not in sight deeper than the skin, and that there is no black hair in it; then the priest shall shut up him that hath the plague of the scall seven days:
seven days: Leviticus 13:4-6
Reciprocal: Leviticus 14:54 - scall
32.
And in the seventh day the priest shall look on the plague: and, behold, if the scall spread not, and there be in it no yellow hair, and the scall be not in sight deeper than the skin;
yellow hair: Leviticus 13:30, Matthew 23:5, Luke 18:9-12, Romans 2:23
33.
He shall be shaven, but the scall shall he not shave; and the priest shall shut up him that hath the scall seven days more:
34.
And in the seventh day the priest shall look on the scall: and, behold, if the scall be not spread in the skin, nor be in sight deeper than the skin; then the priest shall pronounce him clean: and he shall wash his clothes, and be clean.
the seventh: 1 John 4:1, Jude 1:22, Revelation 2:2
be not: Leviticus 13:23
and he shall: Leviticus 13:6
Reciprocal: Leviticus 13:30 - scall Leviticus 15:5 - General
35.
But if the scall spread much in the skin after his cleansing;
36.
Then the priest shall look on him: and, behold, if the scall be spread in the skin, the priest shall not seek for yellow hair; he is unclean.
Reciprocal: Leviticus 13:7 - General Leviticus 14:39 - General
37.
But if the scall be in his sight at a stay, and that there is black hair grown up therein; the scall is healed, he is clean: and the priest shall pronounce him clean.
38.
If a man also or a woman have in the skin of their flesh bright spots, even white bright spots;
39.
Then the priest shall look: and, behold, if the bright spots in the skin of their flesh be darkish white; it is a freckled spot that groweth in the skin; he is clean.
if the bright: Ecclesiastes 7:20, Romans 7:22-25, James 3:2
a freckled spot: The word bohak, from the Syriac behak, to be white, or shining, here rendered "a freckled spot," is used by the Arabs to denote a kind of leprosy, of which Niebuhr says, "Bohak is neither contagious nor dangerous. A black boy at Mocha, who was affected with this eruption, had here and there upon his body white spots. We were told that the use of sulphur had relieved this boy for a time, but had not entirely removed the disease." He adds subsequently from Forskal's papers, "The Arabs call a sort of leprosy, in which some little spots shew themselves here and there on the body, behaq; and it is without doubt the same as is named bohak, (Leviticus 13:1-59). They believe it to be so far from contagious, that one may sleep with a person affected without danger.
"On the 15th day of May, 1765, I myself first saw the Bohak leprosy in a Jew at Mocha. The spots in this disease are of an unequal size. They do not shine; are not perceptibly higher than the skin; and do not change the colour of the hair. Their colour is an obscure white, inclining to red. The rest of the skin of the patient was darker than that of the people of the country in general; but the spots were not so white as the skin of an European, when not sun-burnt. The spots in this leprosy do not appear on the hands, or near the navel, but on the neck and face, yet not on that part where the hair grows thick. They gradually spread, and continue sometimes only about two months, but in some cases one or two years, and then disappear by degrees, of themselves. This disorder is neither contagious nor hereditary, nor does it occasion any inconvenience." Hence a person infected with the bohak is declared clean."
40.
And the man whose hair is fallen off his head, he is bald; yet is he clean.
hair is fallen off his head: Heb. head is pilled, Leviticus 13:41, Song of Solomon 5:11, Romans 6:12, Romans 6:19, Romans 8:10, Galatians 4:13
41.
And he that hath his hair fallen off from the part of his head toward his face, he is forehead bald: yet is he clean.
Reciprocal: Leviticus 13:40 - hair is fallen off his head
42.
And if there be in the bald head, or bald forehead, a white reddish sore; it is a leprosy sprung up in his bald head, or his bald forehead.
Reciprocal: Leviticus 14:37 - General
43.
Then the priest shall look upon it: and, behold, if the rising of the sore be white reddish in his bald head, or in his bald forehead, as the leprosy appeareth in the skin of the flesh;
Reciprocal: Isaiah 3:17 - smite
44.
He is a leprous man, he is unclean: the priest shall pronounce him utterly unclean; his plague is in his head.
utterly unclean: Job 36:14, Matthew 6:23, 2 Peter 2:1, 2 Peter 2:2, 2 John 1:8-10
his plague: Isaiah 1:5
Reciprocal: Leviticus 22:4 - a leper 2 Samuel 3:29 - an issue 2 Kings 5:1 - a leper Isaiah 3:17 - smite Matthew 8:2 - a leper
45.
And the leper in whom the plague is, his clothes shall be rent, and his head bare, and he shall put a covering upon his upper lip, and shall cry, Unclean, unclean.
his clothes: Genesis 37:29, 2 Samuel 13:19, Job 1:20, Jeremiah 3:25, Jeremiah 36:24, Joel 2:13
and his head: Leviticus 10:6, Leviticus 21:10
put: Ezekiel 24:17, Ezekiel 24:22, Micah 3:7
Unclean: Job 42:6, Psalms 51:3, Psalms 51:5, Isaiah 6:5, Isaiah 52:11, Isaiah 64:6, Lamentations 4:15, Luke 5:8, Luke 7:6, Luke 7:7, Luke 17:12
Reciprocal: Numbers 5:18 - uncover Numbers 12:14 - let her be Numbers 19:3 - without the camp
46.
All the days wherein the plague shall be in him he shall be defiled; he is unclean: he shall dwell alone; without the camp shall his habitation be.
the days: Proverbs 30:12
without: Numbers 5:2, Numbers 12:14, Numbers 12:15, 2 Kings 7:3, 2 Kings 15:5, 2 Chronicles 26:21, Lamentations 1:1, Lamentations 1:8, 1 Corinthians 5:5, 1 Corinthians 5:9-13, 2 Thessalonians 3:6, 2 Thessalonians 3:14, 1 Timothy 6:5, Hebrews 12:15, Hebrews 12:16, Revelation 21:27, Revelation 22:15
Reciprocal: Leviticus 4:12 - without the camp Leviticus 14:3 - out of Leviticus 24:14 - without Numbers 19:3 - without the camp Luke 17:12 - which
47.
The garment also that the plague of leprosy is in, whether it be a woollen garment, or a linen garment;
The garment: This leprosy in garments appears so strange to us, that it has induced some, with Bp. Patrick, to consider it as an extraordinary punishment inflicted by God upon the Israelites, as a sign of his high displeasure; while others consider the leprosy in clothes - and also houses as having no relation to the leprosy in man. When Michaelis was considering the subject, he was told by a dealer in wool, that the wool of sheep which die of a disease, if it has not been shorn from the animal while living, is unfit to manufacture cloth, and liable to something like what Moses here describes, and which he imagines to be the plague of leprosy in garments. The whole account, however, as Dr. A. Clarke observes, seems to intimate that the garment was fretted by the contagion of the real leprosy; which it is probable was occasioned by a species of animacula, or vermin, burrowing in the skin, which we know to be the cause of the itch; these, by breeding in the garments, must necessarily multiply their kind, and fret the garments, i.e., corrode a portion of the finer parts, after the manner of moths, for their nourishment. The infection of garments has frequently been known to cause the worst species of scarlet fever, and even the plague; and those infected with psora, or itch animal, have communicated the disease even in six or seven years after the infection. Isaiah 3:16-24, Isaiah 59:6, Isaiah 64:6, Ezekiel 16:16, Romans 13:12, Ephesians 4:22, Colossians 3:3, Jude 1:23
Reciprocal: Leviticus 14:55 - the leprosy
48.
Whether it be in the warp, or woof; of linen, or of woollen; whether in a skin, or in any thing made of skin;
thing made of: Heb. work of, Leviticus 13:51, Deuteronomy 8:11, Jude 1:23, Revelation 3:4
49.
And if the plague be greenish or reddish in the garment, or in the skin, either in the warp, or in the woof, or in any thing of skin; it is a plague of leprosy, and shall be shewed unto the priest:
thing of skin: Heb. vessel, or instrument
it is: Leviticus 13:2
Reciprocal: Leviticus 14:37 - General
50.
And the priest shall look upon the plague, and shut up it that hath the plague seven days:
Reciprocal: Leviticus 14:38 - General
51.
And he shall look on the plague on the seventh day: if the plague be spread in the garment, either in the warp, or in the woof, or in a skin, or in any work that is made of skin; the plague is a fretting leprosy; it is unclean.
fretting leprosy: Leviticus 14:44
Reciprocal: Leviticus 13:48 - thing made of Leviticus 14:39 - General
52.
He shall therefore burn that garment, whether warp or woof, in woollen or in linen, or any thing of skin, wherein the plague is: for it is a fretting leprosy; it shall be burnt in the fire.
burn: Leviticus 11:33, Leviticus 11:35, Deuteronomy 7:25, Deuteronomy 7:26, Isaiah 30:22, Acts 19:19, Acts 19:20
fretting leprosy: Leviticus 14:44, Leviticus 14:45
53.
And if the priest shall look, and, behold, the plague be not spread in the garment, either in the warp, or in the woof, or in any thing of skin;
54.
Then the priest shall command that they wash the thing wherein the plague is, and he shall shut it up seven days more:
55.
And the priest shall look on the plague, after that it is washed: and, behold, if the plague have not changed his colour, and the plague be not spread; it is unclean; thou shalt burn it in the fire; it is fret inward, whether it be bare within or without.
after: Ezekiel 24:13, Hebrews 6:4-8, 2 Peter 1:9, 2 Peter 2:20-22
it be bare within or without: Heb. it be bald in the head thereof, or in the forehead thereof
56.
And if the priest look, and, behold, the plague be somewhat dark after the washing of it; then he shall rend it out of the garment, or out of the skin, or out of the warp, or out of the woof:
57.
And if it appear still in the garment, either in the warp, or in the woof, or in any thing of skin; it is a spreading plague: thou shalt burn that wherein the plague is with fire.
shalt burn: Isaiah 33:14, Matthew 3:12, Matthew 22:7, Matthew 25:41, Revelation 21:8, Revelation 21:27
58.
And the garment, either warp, or woof, or whatsoever thing of skin it be, which thou shalt wash, if the plague be departed from them, then it shall be washed the second time, and shall be clean.
be washed: 2 Kings 5:10, 2 Kings 5:14, Psalms 51:2, 2 Corinthians 7:1, 2 Corinthians 12:8, Hebrews 9:10, Revelation 1:5, The plague of leprosy was inflicted immediately from the hand of God, and came not from natural causes, as other diseases; and therefore must be managed according to a divine law. Miriam's leprosy, and Gehazi's and King Uzziah's were all the punishments of particular sins; and if generally it was so, no marvel there was so much care taken to distinguish it from a common distemper, that none might be looked upon as lying under this extraordinary token of Divine displeasure, but those that really were so.
59.
This is the law of the plague of leprosy in a garment of woollen or linen, either in the warp, or woof, or any thing of skins, to pronounce it clean, or to pronounce it unclean.
Reciprocal: Leviticus 5:3 - the uncleanness Leviticus 7:21 - the uncleanness Leviticus 14:2 - the law Leviticus 14:32 - General Leviticus 15:31 - Thus shall Leviticus 15:32 - General Numbers 5:29 - the law Numbers 30:16 - General Numbers 36:13 - the commandments